The transition from the Sunset Forest to the Starfall Peaks was like stepping from one world into another. In the forest, everything was soft, green, and alive with the sounds of insects and birds. But as Yu Chen, Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, and Dugu Bo climbed higher into the mountain passes, the air turned sharp and freezing. The lush grass gave way to jagged, black rocks, and the only sound was the howling wind that whipped through the narrow stone canyons.
"It's so cold," Ye Lingling whispered, pulling her cloak tighter. Her Nine-Heart Begonia spirit usually thrived in warmth, and she could feel the mountain's "unyielding" energy trying to push her away.
Dugu Yan, who was usually the first to complain, stayed quiet. She was looking up at the massive peaks that looked like teeth biting into the gray sky. She could feel the spiritual pressure. It wasn't just cold; it was heavy. It felt like the mountain itself was a living thing that was watching them, judging if they were worthy to enter.
"Stay close to me," Yu Chen said. He didn't seem bothered by the cold at all. In fact, his **Void-Heart Star** was pulsing happily. To him, this cold, heavy energy felt like a warm blanket. He was home.
As they reached a massive stone wall that looked like a dead end, Dugu Bo suddenly stopped. His emerald eyes narrowed, and his Rank 92 aura flared up instinctively. "We're not alone," the Poison Douluo growled. "There are people in the shadows. Many of them."
Suddenly, the air in front of the stone wall began to ripple like water. Out of nowhere, six figures appeared. They didn't wear bright armor or carry loud weapons. they were dressed in simple, dark robes that seemed to swallow the light. These were the **Shadow Constellations**, the elite guards of the Yu Clan.
"Stop right there," the lead guard said. His voice didn't sound angry; it sounded like a machine—cold and flat. "This is a forbidden zone. Outsiders who take another step will be erased."
The guards ignored Yu Chen at first, their eyes locked onto Dugu Bo. To them, a Titled Douluo showing up at their hidden gate was a declaration of war. The tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Dugu Bo stepped forward, his green poison gas starting to leak from his fingertips. He wasn't going to let anyone talk down to him, even in their own home.
"Wait!" Yu Chen shouted, stepping between the guards and Dugu Bo.
The lead guard looked down at the nine-year-old boy. "Step back, child. This man is a danger to the mountain."
Yu Chen didn't step back. Instead, he straightened his back and let his power explode. He didn't just show his **Rank 34** spirit power; he released the **Silver Command** he got from Gu Yuena and the **Lucky Aura** from the Golden Lion. A silver-black light mixed with a golden shimmer burst out of him, making the very ground beneath the guards' feet tremble.
The guards froze. Their cold, robotic expressions shattered into looks of pure shock. They recognized that energy. It was the "Void" energy of their main bloodline, but it was much more powerful and "pure" than anything they had ever felt from a kid.
"I am Yu Chen," he said, his voice echoing against the stone walls. "I have returned from my trial. These people are my guests and my partners. If you want to erase them, you'll have to go through me first."
The lead guard stared at Yu Chen for a long moment. Then, slowly, he dropped to one knee. The other five guards followed him immediately, bowing their heads.
"Young Master," the lead guard said, his voice now full of respect. "We did not recognize you. Your power... it has changed so much. Please, forgive our rudeness. The mountain welcomes you home."
The massive stone wall began to groan and slide open, revealing a tunnel lit by glowing crystals. Dugu Bo stood there, his mouth slightly open. He knew Yu Chen was special, but seeing these high-level guards—men who didn't even fear a Titled Douluo—kneel before a nine-year-old was a "complete change" in how he viewed the boy.
As they walked through the tunnel and into the main compound, Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan were speechless. The inside of the mountain was like a giant city carved out of diamond and obsidian. There were waterfalls that flowed upward, gardens of glowing plants, and huge halls that looked like they had been built by giants.
"Yu Chen!"
A woman's voice rang out across the main courtyard. A beautiful woman with long, flowing hair ran toward them. This was **Qingling**, Yu Chen's mother. Behind her, walking with a steady, powerful pace, was his father, **Yu Ming**.
Qingling wrapped Yu Chen in a hug so tight he could barely breathe. "You're back! We were so worried! The elders said the forest was getting dangerous..." She pulled back to look at him and then gasped. She rubbed her eyes as if she didn't believe what she was seeing. "Wait... Ming, look at his spirit power. Is that... Rank 34?"
Yu Ming stopped in his tracks. He was a strong man, a leader who rarely showed emotion, but his jaw dropped. "Rank 34? You were Rank 20 when you left a few months ago. That's... that's impossible. No one jumps fourteen levels in a few months!"
Yu Chen smiled. "It was a very busy trip, Father."
He then stepped aside to introduce his friends. "Mother, Father, this is Ye Lingling. She is the best healer I have ever met. And this is Dugu Yan, my partner and a brilliant poison master."
Both girls bowed politely, though they were clearly nervous. Then, Yu Chen looked at Dugu Bo. "And this is Senior Dugu Bo. He has decided to join us as our external guardian."
Yu Ming and Qingling looked at the tall, green-robed man. They recognized him instantly. Everyone knew the Poison Douluo. They expected him to be arrogant or threatening, but Dugu Bo did something that made the entire courtyard go silent.
The Poison Douluo stepped forward and bowed deeply to Yu Chen's parents. "I am Dugu Bo. Your son saved my life and fixed a curse that has haunted my family for generations. From now on, his enemies are my enemies. I am honored to stand by his side."
Yu Ming took a deep breath, trying to process everything. His nine-year-old son had gone into the woods and come back as a Rank 34 expert with two talented girls and a Titled Douluo who bowed to him. The "homecoming" he expected was a simple dinner; what he got was a total change in the clan's power.
"We need to go to the Elder's Hall," Yu Ming said, his voice serious now. "The Great Elder needs to see this. And Yu Chen... there is something you need to know. The Spirit Hall hasn't just been looking for you. They've been moving troops toward our borders. They call you the 'Anomaly,' and they are terrified of what you are becoming."
Yu Chen looked at his friends and then at his home. The peace of the Sunset Forest was gone. He was back in the world of politics, war, and family secrets. But as he felt the lucky glow of the Golden Lion in his chest, he knew he was ready.
"Let them come," Yu Chen said quietly. "I'm not the little boy who left this mountain. I'm the Sovereign of the Void, and I've brought the forest with me."